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Six Nations issues statement following weekend Laporte claim deal is done with CVC

By Online Editors
(Photo by Tom Jenkins/Getty Images)

Six Nations have issued a statement following recent speculation surrounding the status of its negotiations with CVC Capital Partners. World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte had revealed last weekend that CVC would acquire a 14.5 per cent stake in the Six Nations tournament. 

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The former France head coach revealed the news publicly at an FFR AGM after the estimated £400,000million-plus buy-in had been delayed by the global coronavirus pandemic.

On foot of the Laporte revelation, Midi Olympique reported that France were set to bag at least €75m (£67.5m) over five years in a Six Nations deal that would come at the perfect time for cash-strapped unions who are forecast to lose millions due to pandemic lockdown.

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RugbyPass reported last year that the CVC deal could see some Six Nations matches no longer broadcast on free-to-air television, a move that would inevitably cause controversy in the sport.

However, in light of the recent media headlines prompted by Laporte’s claim, Six Nations officials have moved to claim that the process is nowhere near yet concluded for a buy-in deal by an investment company that already has shares in both the Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness PRO14. 

The statement read: “Over the past year, Six Nations has been involved in exclusive negotiations with CVC Capital Partners. These negotiations have been very constructive and forward thinking. 

“Negotiations of this nature are complex. They can take significant time and at this point, are still ongoing. An agreement is not to be expected imminently and it would be inaccurate to present it as a formality. 

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“There is no set timeline for completion of this process, and any agreement, if it were to go ahead, would not be accelerated due to any potential challenge presented by the current external environment.” 

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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